Dispensing machine



Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,839

c. H. \(ESTAL DISPENSING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 10 1926. [1,595,839

' v C. H. VESTAL V DISPENSING MACHINE Filed April 28. 1924 I5Sheets-Sheet '2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 10 1926.

C. H. VESTAL DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheet sS het 3 Filed April '28. 1924ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 10, 3926.

UNITED CHARLES H. VESTAL, OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE.

DISPENSING IVIACIIINE.

Application filed April 28, 1924.

This invention relates to combined measuring and dispensing devices,more particularly to devices of this character adapted for measuring anddispensing articles of merchandise which is furnished to the trade inuniformly sized particles, such as sugar, corn meal, dried beans, peasand the like, and has for one of its objects to increase the etliciencyand utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterincluding a measuring and dispensing apparatus and an indicating deviceto denote the quantity and price of the commodity to be dispensed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawingsillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven lion Figure 1 is afront elevation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a transverse section, enlarged, on the line of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section, enlarged, on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section, enlarged, on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 shows, in front elevation, the latching structure shown inFigure 6.

Figure 8 shows, in side elevation, the latching structure shown inFigure 6.

The improved device comprises a container for the commodity to bemeasured and dispensed and represented as a whole at 10, of any requiredsize of dimensions, but preferably cylindrical in outline, and with aninclined or hopper shaped bottom 11. The container 10 is provided with atransparent panel 12 to disclose the quantity of the contents, and witha detachable closure 13.

Extending from the lower hopper end of the container and communicatingtherewith is a reduced on ension 14 and constituting the receiver forthe commodity or material to be measured and dispensed, andcorresponding; in area to the largest quantity to be measu'red atonetime. The receiver portion. '14 is preferably square and merges atadapted to Serial No. 709,611.

its upper end into the hopper bottom of the container.

The portion 14 is closed at the back and sides with the front and bottomnormally open. Slidably disposed over the open front of the receiver 14is a closure 15, operative in suitable guide devices 16 and more thantwice the length of the receiver portion 14, and is pierced about midwayof its length to receive a cut off member 17 extend transversely of thereceiver and cut off of the flow therethrough.

The receiver 14 is pierced through one side at its lower part to receiveanother cut off member 18, which constitutes a movable bottom or closureto the otherwise open bottom of the receiver.

Extending from the cut off member 17 is a guide rod 19, the latterslidably supported by a bracekt device 20 attached at 21 to the movableclosure 15, while the cut off 18 is provided with a similar guide rod 22slidably supported by a. bracket device 23 attached at 24 to theadjacent side of the receiver 14.

Surrounding the rod 19 between the bracket 20 and the cut off 17 is aspring 25 operating to hold the cut off normally and yieldably closed,while a like spring 26 surrounds the rod 22 between the cut off 18 andthe bracket 23, and operates to hold the cut off 18 normally andyieldably closed. Attached at 27 to the closure member 15 is a smallbracket 28 having a guide 29 through which a bolt operates and providedwith a head 31 having one inclined face, and held yieldably in projectedposition by a spring 32.

Attached at 33 to the adjacent side of the receiver 14 is a smallbracket 34 having a guide 35 through which a bolt 36 is slidable andhaving a head 37 at one end and with one inclined face as shown, andheld yieldably in projected position by a spring 38.

Formed in the adjacent edge of the cut off 17 is a socket to receive thehead 31 of the bolt 30, while a similar socket in the cut off 18receives the head 37 of the bolt 36. By this arrangement when the cutoff members 17 and 18 are moved into their outer positions, ortransversely of the receiver 14 against the resistance of the springs 32and 38 by force manually applied to the rods 19 and 22, the heads 31 and37 will aut'o matically engage the sockets of the cut-offs and retainthem yieldably in open position.

Means are provided for alternately withdrawing the bolts 30 and 36, andthis means comprises a turning rod 41 supported for rotation at the endsby brackets l2 and 48 attached respectively to the container 10 and thereceiver 14, the rod being of other term than round transversely betweenthe brackets as shown in Figures 4-, 5, 6 and 7.

Formed in the guide 29 for the bolt 30 is a slot through which atransversely perforated lug 44; extends, and slidable on the rod 4 1 isa collar 4-5 having a stud 46 projecting therefrom and passingthroughthe perforation in the lug it. By this means wien the rod 4 .1 isoscillated, the bolt 30 will be forced through the guide 29 and withdrawthe head 31 from engagement with the cut-oft 17, and release the latterand permit the spring to automatically close the cut-elf or dispose itin closed position.

Attached to the rod 411 at its lower end and rotative therewith is acollar tS having a stud 19 extending therefrom. I

Pivoted at 50 on the guide 55 is a bell crank lever 50, pivoted at 50 tothe bolt 36, and with a projection on the other arm extending into thepath of the stud By this arrangement when the rod 11 is oscillated to acertain extent in one direction, the bolt 36 will be moved against theresistance of the spring 38 by the swingin of the bell crank lever andthe head 3( thereby withdrawn from its seat in the cut oil" 18 torelease the same and ermit the spring 26 to force it into closedposition. Then when the rod 41 is oscillated to a greater extent in thesame direction, the head 31 of the bolt will be withdrawn to permit thereaction of the spring 25 to move the cut-oil 17 into closed position.At its upper end the rod 41 is provided with a turning crank, having alug 67 to engage alternately in recesses in a segment 68, one of therecesses beingshown 69. By this means the rod ll is locked in either oneof its two positions.

The aperture in the collar 45 which engages the rod 41 is of greaterarea than the red as indicated at 52, to provide a certain degree oflostmotion to the rod so that the lower cut-off 18 will be released fora sufficient length of time in advance of the release of the uppercnt-otf 17, to prevent interference between the actions of the cutoffdevices as hereafter explained.

Attached to the movable closure 15 and spaced from the guide members 16,are gear racks 53 and 5e. Supported at 55- on the container 10 is a stubshaft 56 with a relatively small gear 57 at one. end in constantengagement with the rack 54; and with an operating crank 58 at the.other end; By

this means the closure 15 is movable vertically between its guides 16 byrotating the shaft 56.

Attached at 59 to the container 10 adjacent to the rack 54 is a stubshaft 60 having a gear 61 at one end in constant engagement with therack 5%.

Attached to the container 10 adjacent the shaft (50 and through whichthe latter extends, is a shell (53 having a relatively narrow opening inone side, and mounted on the shaft (30 within the shell. is a gradu atcddrain 65. By this means when the shaft 56 is rotated to operate the rack53 and cori" oondingly actuate the closure 15, the rack i will be movedwith the closure and rotate the gear 61 and the drum G5, and the e ear(51 being larger than the gear 51 the (51 and the drum 65 will be movedsure 15.

The receiver at a slower speed than the cloll, as before stated, is dexn the greatest quantity of ch it is designed to measure and one time,and when it is desired to w aw is greater quantity, the member 10 ismoved to its upper position by rotating the crank 58 thus disposing theupper cut-oil 1. opposite the upper end of the re ceiver 14;. Thecuhoiii 17 is then drawn into open position. by manually drawing the rod19 outwardly against the resistance of the spring 25, until the head 31of the bolt 30 snaps into the seat in the edge of the cutoff. At thistime the lower cuto1i 18 is not disturbed. The material will then flowinto the receiver 14 and completely fill the same, and when this isaccomplished, the crank 66 is turned to the right to cause the V shapededge of the rod $1 to pick up the collar 41-5 and move it to the rightto cause f 416 to move the bolt 30 through the head 29 and withdraw thehead 31 "from its seat in the cut-oft l7 and release the latter andcause it to be closed by the reaction of the spring 25. This will cutoff the bulk it the material in the hoppe and separate 'he contents ofthe receiver 1% therefrom. he operating rod 22 of the lower cut-oft 18is then manually operated to draw the lower rut-oii into open positionagainst the resistance of the spring 22 and locked in open position bythe action of the spring operated lock bolt thus releasing the con tentsof the receptacle 1%.

The lever 66 is then moved to another position to cause the finger 49 toactuate the bell crank lever 50, to withdraw the lock bolt 36 fromengagement with the lower cutoff 18 to release the latter and permit itto be moved into closed position by reaction of the spring 22. If alesser quantity is required to be measured and dispensed, the:

crank 58 is rotated to adjust the closure 15- inposition to locate thecut-off 17 at a point to cut off the desired lesser quantity, which maythen be discharged by holding the upper cut-off closed and opening thelower cut-off, as before described.

Thus any required portion of the contents of the receiver may be out offand discharged.

The drum 65 will be provided with gage lines corresponding to therequired position of the cutoff l7, and by rotating the shaft 56 untilthe desired gage line on the drum is visible through the opening 6%, thecutoff 17 will b located in position to cut off the required quantity inthe receiver.

To illustrate. Suppose the commodity to be measured and dispensed isgranulated sugar, the surface of the drum 65 will be provided with gagelines divided to represent pounds and multiples or fractions of poundstogether with the prices for such quantities. For instance suppose thatthe receiver 14: is gaged to contain, when full a quantity equal to tenpounds, then if ten pounds is required to be dispensed the closure 15will be moved to its upper position and the cut-off 17 closed toseparate the full contents of the container from the full contents ofthe receiver. Nhen thus arranged the ten pound graduation on the drum 65will appear opposite the slot 6 If a lesser quantity is required, forinstance five pounds, the lower cut-off is closed and the upper cut-offopened, as be fore, and the receiver 14 allowed to run full. The crank58 is then rotated until the cut-off 17 is opposite the middle of thereceiver 14, or with five pounds below the line of the upper cut-off, orbetween the two cut-offs. The upper cut-off 17 is then forced intoclosed position against the re sistance of the spring 25, to separatethe bulk of the material in the container and in the receiver abov theupper cut-oil", and the lower cut-off released by withdrawing the bolt3637, and permitting the spring 38 to move it into open position andpermitting the material below the upper cut-off to be discharged.

The lower cut-off is then restored to closed position by withdrawing thebolt 36 and permitting the spring 22 to act and the upper cut-off drawninto open position against the resistance of the spring and locked inopen position by the spring bolt 30, as before described, to permit there ceptacle 14 to be again filled.

The receptacle 14 is normally filled, and th upper cut-off 17manipulated, as above described, to gage the quantity of material to bemeasured.

Thus it will be obvious that any required quantity may be measured anddispensed by so adjusting the closure 15 that the position of thecut-ofi 17 corresponds to the graduation which is visible through theslot 64-.

The apparatus can be readily adapted to various commodities or articlesby changing the proportions of the receiver 4: and container 10, butwithout material change in the operation parts.

The improved device is simple in eonstruction, accurate in action, andcan be constructed of any desired size or capacity and of any suitablematerial.

What I claim as new is 1. A dispensing device of the character set forthcomprising, a hopper body having a reduced open fronted lower extension,a vertically slidabl Janel mounted to move over said open front, meansfor controlling the vertical movement of said panel, a slidinc" cutoffextending through said panel and into said extension and movable withthe panel, a sliding cutoff mounted upon said extension and adapted toclose the lower end thereof, a control spring acting upon each cutoff tonormally maintain it in and transversely of the extension, catch meansfor each cutoff adapted to engage and hold the same in withdrawnposition, under proper conditions, and means common to both cutoffswhereby the catches holding the same may be individually 1nanipulated torelease them to be acted upon by their respectiv springs.

2. A dispensing device of the character set forth comprising, a hopperbody having a reduced open fronted lower extension, a verticallyslidable panel mounted to move over said open front, means forcontrolling the vertical movement of said panel, a sliding; cutoffextending through said panel and into said extension and movable withthe panel, a sliding cutofi mounted upon said extension and adapted toclose the lower end thereof, a control spring acting upon each cutolftonormally maintain it in cutoff position in the extension, an arm carriedby and extending from said panel, a catch carried by said arm designedto engage and hold the cutoff carried by said panel, when the same isdrawn outwardly, and release means positioned at one side of said paneland adapted to disengage said catch from said cutoff.

3. A dispensing device of the character set forth comprising, a hopperbody having a reduced open fronted lower extension, avertically slidablepanel mounted to move over said open front, means for controlling thevertical movement of said panel, a sliding cute-ff extending throughsaid panel and into said extension and movable with the panel, a slidingcutoff mounted upon said extension and adapted to close the lower endthereof, a control spring acting upon each cutofi to normally maintainit in cutoff position in the extension, an arm carried by and extendingfrom said panel, a catch carried by said arm designed to engage and holdthe cutoff carried by said panel, when the same is drawn outwardly, aturnable rod mounted in vertical position adjacent said panel, and anactuating element slidable on said rod and connected between the rod andsaid catch, designed to retract the catch when the rod is turned torelease the cutoff.

4. A dispensing device of the character set forth comprising, a hopperbody having a reduced open fronted lower extension, a verticallyslidable panel mounted to move over said open front, means forcontrolling the vertical movement of said panel, a sliding cutoffextending through said panel and into said extension and movable withthe panel, a sliding cutoff mounted upon said extension and adapted toclose the lower end thereof. a control spring acting upon each cutoff tonormally maintain it in cutoff position in the extension, an armextending from said panel, a sliding catch carried thereby to engage thecutoff carried by said panel when the same is drawn outwardly, an armmounted adjacent the cutoff carried by said extension, a sliding catchcarried thereby for engaging the last mentioned cutoif when the same isdrawn outwardly, a vertically mounted turnable rod, means carried at thelower end of said rod for retracting, when turned in a clockwisedirection, said last mentioned catch to release the cutoff held thereby,and means slidable on said rod and turnable therewith for releasing,when turned in a counter clockwise direction, the latch engaging thecutoff carried by said panel. it. dispensing device of the character setforth comprising, a hopper body having a reduced open fronted lowerextension, a panel constituting a closure for said front and mounted toslidably move thereover, a sliding cutoff carried by said panel andextending transversely thereof into and movable in said extension, asliding cutoff extending across the lower portion of said extension andnormally constituting a bottom therefor, 21 pair of rack elementsmounted upon said panel to move therewith, a revoluble crank and gearelement mounted adja cent one of said elements and connected thereto toraise or lower said panel and the cutoff carried thereby, and means inconnec- "i n with and actuated by the other rack for indicating thevolume of the material contained in said hopper deliverable from saidextension by the projection inwardly of the cutoff carried by the paneland the withdrawing of the cutoff closing the lower end of theextension.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature hereto.

CHARLES H. VESTAL.

